System, method and computer program product for adding voice activation and voice control to a media player

Abstract

A media player system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, an utterance is received. A command for a media player is then generated based on the utterance. Such command is utilized for providing wireless control of the media player.

1. A system, comprising:
 an automobile; 
 an assembly coupled to the automobile for receiving power therefrom and further connectable to a media player with music stored thereon, the assembly including a voice activation module, memory, a power unit for charging the media player, a speaker, and a microphone;
 said memory including a computer readable medium comprising: 
 computer code for initializing a plurality of program variables stored in the memory of the assembly, the program variables including artists, songs, and playlists; 
 computer code for receiving a trigger signal; 
 computer code for, after the receipt of the trigger signal, receiving an utterance utilizing the microphone of the assembly; 
 computer code for verifying the utterance utilizing the speaker of the assembly; 
 computer code for, after the verification of the utterance, generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command selected from a command set including a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, a playlist command, an artist command, and a song command; and 
 computer code for channeling output of the media player via the assembly; 
 
 wherein the corresponding command provides wireless control of the media player; 
 
       wherein the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent every 55 uSecs. 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes:
 an FM transmitter; and 
 software capable of detecting the utterance, translating the utterance into computer code and transmitting the code to the media player. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the computer code controls a state of the media player. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the output is FM modulated utilizing the FM transmitter of the assembly for reception by an FM receiver. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the FM transmitter is capable of sweeping in a range of frequencies between 88 MHz and 108 MHz. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is releasably connected to the media player. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes a visual indicator for indicating whether the media player is awaiting the receipt of the utterance. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , and further comprising computer code for adjusting the received utterance if it is not verified. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , and further comprising computer code for translating the utterance into computer code capable of being recognized by the media player. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media player is selected from the group consisting of: an iPod(R) and a cell phone. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the utterance is a programmed command that is registered by the media player. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command set also includes at least one of a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, search, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command set also includes a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, a search command, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the utterance is converted into an application specific voice tag and is subsequently compared to at least one voice tag from a library of voice tags located on the media player. 
     
     
       15. A system, comprising:
 an automobile; 
 an assembly coupled to the automobile for receiving power therefrom and further connectable to a media player with music stored thereon, the assembly including memory, a power source for charging the media player, a speaker, a microphone, and: 
 computer code for initializing a plurality of program variables stored in the memory of the assembly, the program variables including artists, songs, and playlists; 
 computer code for identifying a trigger signal; 
 computer code for, after the identification of the trigger signal, identifying an utterance received utilizing the microphone of the assembly; 
 computer code for verifying the utterance utilizing the speaker of the assembly; and 
 computer code for, after the verification of the utterance, generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command selected from a command set including a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, a playlist command, an artist command, and a song command; 
 said assembly channeling output of the media player via the assembly; 
 said corresponding command providing wireless control of the media player; 
 
       wherein the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent with a code repetition rate of 66. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the corresponding command is application-specific. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the trigger signal is audible. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the trigger signal includes an audible trigger word. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , wherein it is determined whether a timeout has occurred before the utterance is received. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein if the timeout has occurred, the identification of the trigger signal is repeated. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 15 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is programmed. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 21 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is registered. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 21 , wherein if the utterance is not verified, the corresponding command is not generated. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 21 , wherein if the utterance is not verified, the utterance is outputted via the speaker. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 25 , wherein a user is allowed to accept or reject the utterance outputted via the speaker. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the program variables are initialized with at least one of input and output. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 15 , wherein a button release command is generated. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the media player further includes a satellite radio player. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the corresponding command is sent as a bit stream with each bit sent with a code repetition rate of 66. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 15 , wherein it is determined whether the corresponding command is a sleep command. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the media player is powered down, if it is determined the corresponding command is a sleep command. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the program variables are released. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the media player includes an iPod(R). 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the command set includes a search command. 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the utterance is compared against a library of words. 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 36 , wherein the corresponding command is generated in response to identifying a match between the utterance and the library of words. 
     
     
       38. The system of  claim 37 , wherein the library of words includes an artist name and a voice tag. 
     
     
       39. The system of  claim 37 , wherein the library of words includes an artist name and an application specific voice tag. 
     
     
       40. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium, comprising:
 computer code for controlling an assembly coupled to an automobile for receiving power therefrom and further connectable to a media player with music stored thereon, the assembly including memory, a power source for charging the media player, a speaker, and a microphone; 
 computer code for initializing a plurality of program variables stored in the memory of the assembly, the program variables including artists, songs, and playlists; 
 computer code for identifying a trigger signal; 
 computer code for, after the identification of the trigger signal, identifying an utterance received utilizing the microphone of the assembly; 
 computer code for verifying the utterance utilizing the speaker of the assembly; 
 computer code for, after the verification of the utterance, generating a corresponding command for the media player based on the utterance, the corresponding command selected from a command set including a play command, a pause command, a shuffle command, a playlist command, an artist command, and a song command; and 
 computer code for controlling the assembly such that output of the media player is channeled via the assembly, and the corresponding command provides wireless control of the media player; 
 
       wherein the corresponding command is at least one of 1) sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent every 55 uSecs, and 2) sent as a bit stream with each of a plurality of bits sent with a code repetition rate of 66. 
     
     
       41. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein the corresponding command is application-specific. 
     
     
       42. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein the trigger signal is audible. 
     
     
       43. The computer program product of  claim 42 , wherein the trigger signal includes an audible trigger word. 
     
     
       44. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein it is determined whether a timeout has occurred before the utterance is received. 
     
     
       45. The computer program product of  claim 44 , wherein if the timeout has occurred, the identification of the trigger signal is repeated. 
     
     
       46. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified. 
     
     
       47. The computer program product of  claim 46 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is programmed. 
     
     
       48. The computer program product of  claim 46 , wherein it is determined whether the utterance is verified, based on whether the utterance is registered. 
     
     
       49. The computer program product of  claim 46 , wherein if the utterance is not verified, the corresponding command is not generated. 
     
     
       50. The computer program product of  claim 46 , wherein if the utterance is not verified, the utterance is outputted via the speaker. 
     
     
       51. The computer program product of  claim 50 , wherein a user is allowed to accept or reject the utterance outputted via the speaker. 
     
     
       52. The computer program product of  claim 50 , wherein the program variables are initialized with at least one of input and output. 
     
     
       53. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein a button release command is generated. 
     
     
       54. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein the command set includes a search command. 
     
     
       55. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein the utterance is compared against a library of words. 
     
     
       56. The computer program product of  claim 55 , wherein the corresponding command is generated in response to identifying a match between the utterance and the library of words. 
     
     
       57. The computer program product of  claim 55 , wherein the library of words includes an artist name and a voice tag. 
     
     
       58. The computer program product of  claim 55 , wherein the library of words includes an artist name and an application specific voice tag. 
     
     
       59. The computer program product of  claim 40 , and further comprising computer code for translating the utterance into computer code capable of being recognized by the media player. 
     
     
       60. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein the utterance is a programmed command that is registered by the media player. 
     
     
       61. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein the command set also includes at least one of a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, search, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command. 
     
     
       62. The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein the command set also includes a fast forward command, a rewind command, an on command, an off command, a repeat command, a search command, a volume up command, a volume down command, and a next playlist command. 
     
     
       63. The computer program product of  claim 44 , wherein the utterance is converted into an application specific voice tag and is subsequently compared to at least one voice tag from a library of voice tags located on the media player.